Fairfax County police detectives recently concluded a months-long operation targeting online predators, leading to the arrests of 16 suspects allegedly seeking criminal encounters with minors.
During the operation, detectives focused on identifying offenders who used online platforms “to initiate inappropriate conversations with individuals they believed to be underage,” the police department said in a news release.
“The suspects arrived or pre-arranged to arrive in Fairfax County with plans to commit sexual acts with minors, only to be met by detectives,” the release said.
The 16 men, ranging in age from 20 to 65, now face a total of 82 felony charges.
The following suspects were arrested and charged during this operation:
- Joel Dario Santamaria Jara, 28, of Sterling, was charged with three counts of Solicitation of a Minor and Attempted Indecent Liberties with Children.
- Michael Forsht, 59, of Springfield, was charged with four counts of Solicitation of a Minor and Production of Child Pornography.
- Alexander William Coughlin, 30, of Bristow, was charged with Solicitation of a Minor.
- Tranh Duy Nguyen, 20, of Woodbridge, was charged with Solicitation of a Minor.
- Refujio Deleon, 62, of Roanoke, was charged with Solicitation of a Minor and Attempted Indecent Liberties with Children.
- Nery Elisio Gonzalez Ordonez, 36, of Springfield, was charged with Solicitation of a Minor.
- Watcharapong Sapsittikul, 33, of Oakton, was charged with Solicitation of a Minor.
- Allan Blake Willoughby, 65, of Dinwiddie, was charged with four counts of Solicitation of a Minor and Production of Child Pornography.
- Dennis Joseph Furey Jr, 50, of Sterling, was charged with four counts of Solicitation of a Minor.
- Simon Roberts, 40, of Annandale, was charged with four counts of Solicitation of a Minor and Production of Child Pornography.
- Tommy Varesh, 52, of Canada, was charged with 12 counts of Solicitation of a Minor, Production of Child Pornography, and Contributing to Delinquency.
- Bacem Megdiche, 26, of Maryland, was charged with three counts of Solicitation of a Minor, two counts of Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and Distribution of Certain Drugs to Persons Under 18 Prohibited.
- Benjamin Scott Heyman, 48, of Herndon, was charged with 12 counts of Possession/Distribution of Child Pornography (Second or Subsequent), Solicitation of a Minor, Attempted Indecent Liberties with a Minor, and Prostitution/Solicitation of a Minor.
- Nelson Ivan Perez-Villegas, 30, of Maryland,was charged with Solicitation of a Minor and Attempted Indecent Liberties with a Minor.
- Mario Alexander Bonilla, 49, of Manassas, was charged with five counts of Solicitation of a Minor, two counts of Production of Child Pornography, Eluding, and Resisting Arrest.
- Saboor Anwari, 23, of Fredericksburg, was arrested by Virginia State Police for three counts of Solicitation of a Minor, three counts of Carnal Knowledge of Child Between Thirteen and Fifteen Years, and Indecent Liberties with a Minor. Anwari is awaiting extradition to Fairfax County.
Police urge parents to closely monitor their children’s online activities and use available security settings to prevent the use of inappropriate sites or platforms.
“Children should be encouraged to report any person engaging in inappropriate conversations or trying to coerce them into providing sexually explicit images of themselves,” the release said.
There are many applications predators use to solicit victims. Parents are encouraged to know what applications their children are using and have open dialog of the dangers they may pose.
Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding these incidents or others with a similar nexus to call the Major Crimes Bureau at 703-246-7800, option 6.
